Once again I am very sorry for the extremely late update (2 years late I know!). Although I have the plot finished in my mind, I have been so busy I could not find time to write the story until now. I hope I have not spoiled it completely.
To jackjiahe for reminding me I must finish. :)
Chapter 10–The Unexpected Guest Part 3: Anger
The tension in Teitan High class 2-B had never been as great as it was now. The students all noticed the rather odd attention their teacher, Miyano-sensei, was giving to the light skinned high school detective in so high a degree. It was not that of humor or flattery either but utter sternness and, almost as it seemed to the class, spiteful. Although Miyano-sensei had always been one for strictness, this change in intensity she had only for Kudo Shinichi was, indeed, very drastic. It only made sense for them, therefore, to wonder what meaning this held for the two. "What happened? Something must have happened between those two," thought they.
The class' naked curiosity, however, could not compare to that of Shinichi's, who was the center of it all. In all truthfulness though, however unseemly it was, it was not the spoiled curiosity of a detective that formed the questions that swam wildly in his head. Was it fear or was it personal interest? Shinichi couldn't decide. It seemed this had been a becoming pattern since his return from London –indecisions, uncertainty, cluelessness even and he figured himself a detective!
He didn't know what he could have possibly done that had earned such hostility towards him from his teacher when only two days ago all was well between them as they shopped for a dress and ate at his home with friends. He was extremely agitated by this, he found, but shrugged it off as anxiety since today was his first day of special class with Miyano-sensei.
The bell was too quick to ring. While the rest of the class very slowly packed their things, hesitant to leave the room where things might finally happen, Kudo Shinichi and Hattori Heiji took their seats in the first row near the teacher's table. Shiho, then, stood in front her two students, "I assume you've at least read all about stoichiometry?" Thus, the class began.
Along the lines of moles and Avogadro's number, the tension between Kudo and Miyano rose and Hattori Heiji was in the middle of it all. "I didn't ask what the Avogradro's number was, I ask you what it meant," said Shiho in her most demeaning voice to Shinichi. "Then maybe you should have said 'What does the Avogadro's number mean' rather than 'What is the Avogadro's number' to make it clearer," said the other and the argument went on.
Although he did appreciate his backstage tickets to the drama, he wished he didn't have to feel so awkward, having to tiptoe his way around chemistry and romance. So out he came with it, "Are you two having a lover's quarrel?"
Both Shiho and Kudo were shocked to disbelief, all the while just staring at the dark skinned detective. The young chemist was the first to break from it, instantly deciding to deafen this maniac who was clearly out of his mind, or so she liked to think. "Are you out of your mind?" screamed Miyano uncharacteristically, her voice although soft was as horrifying as a voice could be, it was more than enough to shake Shinichi out of his shock. And so he followed to give the most dangerous glare he could summon, "Don't be stupid Hattori!"
Poor Heiji was caught between mad and madder, who was which he had yet to figure out. Nonetheless, it was very clear to him that it was unlikely for either of the two to confront that which was so obvious to others but remarkably obscure to the both of them. The rest of the special class consisted of snide remarks, more shouting and none of the curious banters that once sparked an almost romance.
An almost romance. What were they to make of this now? Ran, Sonoko, Kazuha, Heiji, although all were still intent on accomplishing the necessary steps that neither Shinichi nor Miyano wanted to take, they also knew that Asami-senpai's recent visit to Shinichi caused much strain to Miyano and Shinichi's already strained relationship, if they could even call it that. It wasn't such a great feat of deduction. The tension present during the dinner in Shinichi's house being palpable, it didn't take a man with a magnifying glass to figure out that Asami-senpai and Miyano-sensei would not be on friendly terms. But Shinichi Kudo, his ignorance as remarkable as his genius, of course didn't notice it was because of him.
They decided to wait outside the classroom for the special class to finish. Heiji was the first step outside the room. Although he was whole, he looked so tired the girls immediately pitied him. They could only imagine what the dark-skinned detective must have gone through. Their regular chemistry class was enough of a torture and that was when there were many of them to hold the tension back. But with only Heiji alone with their stupid friend and their intense chemistry teacher, anything could happen –everything could happen.
"What happened?" asked Ran. That seemed to be the popular question of the day. Heiji looked at her, his eyes without the life that once defined it, once when he was still that fearless and determined detective. He gave her a resigned sigh.
"That bad?" Kazuha asked him while she patted his shoulders in sympathy.
"That bad was an hour ago. Now it's just too evil to let me live."
"Oh I'm sure they'll be fine. We're just going to have to do some damage control. Then we can continue as planned," Sonoko told them with undeterred resolution.
"Sonoko, I think we're going to have to do more than just damage control. How can anyone possibly make a couple out of them when they're constantly at each other's throat?" Kazuha pointed out.
"She's right Sonoko. Besides, what about Asami-senpai?" said Ran, "This isn't just about pushing them to be together because they're slow to get there. What if Shinichi does really like Asami-senpai?"
"This is getting too complicated for my taste. How about we just let them be?" said Heiji.
"Or we evaluate things after we meet Asami-senpai today, find out if Shinichi and Asami-senpai are still in the game, then decide what to do next?" Sonoko suggested. It was obvious she wasn't ready to let her chance of playing matchmaker for Shinichi just yet.
"Or we could just let them be," said Heiji, which got him a glare from Sonoko this time.
Asami-senpai and three more people, a man wearing glasses, another slightly heavy guy and a sprightly woman, were standing just outside the school gate when Shinich and the others spotted them on their way home. Ran turned a curious glance at Miyano-sensei. Ran thought she saw a sour expression fleeted her teacher's face but it had been so quick to return to the poker face she couldn't be sure.
That's right, Asami-senpai said some of her friends from the mystery club were going to leave on Sunday, the day they originally decided to meet. Instead, they decided to have the dinner today after school.
"Asami-senpai, I thought we were going to meet at the train station," said Shinichi.
"Ah- sorry Kudo-kun. These guys wanted to see you in school," Asami-senpai pointed at the people behind her.
"Of course," one of the guys wearing glasses said, "You can always tell more about a person in their natural habitat, isn't that right Kudo Shinichi." He stared at Shinichi squarely, a smirk on his face that irked the high school detective.
"So he's one of those guys, huh?" Hattori, also quite annoyed for some reason, mumbled to Shinichi.
"Don't let him bother you," said the big man beside him.
"Yeah, he has the tendency to show off and mark his territory," said the woman and smiled knowingly.
"Allow me to introduce my clubmates. This is Akira Sendo, the president of our mystery club," Asami-senpai gestured at the man wearing glasses, "Watabe Aoi and Fujita Yumi. These are my friends from high school, Ran, Sonoko, you know Hattori Heiji and his friend Kazuha-san. And this – is Miyano Shiho, their friend and teacher."
"Miyano Shiho? Isn't that the woman from the restaurant murder case we read about on the newspaper?" Yumi-san said. "Oh wow! The journalist said you were stunning but you're even more beautiful than I imagined. I'm so jealous!"
"Yes. Even Asami's description could not compare. It must be nice to have a partner as lovely as to look at as Miyano-san, Kudo-san," said Akira-san, "I myself am looking for that kind of partner. Only, I'm still waiting for Asami's answer."
"She's given it to you. You just didn't want to listen," Aoi-san chided him.
"Oh? Akira-senpai and Asami-senpai? If I were Asami-senpai, I won't even need time to think about it. I'd say yes immediately!" said Sonoko, swooning already.
"I agree," Kazuha joined Sonoko looking just as dazed.
Hattori, who started to walk without them, said in a disgruntled voice, "We should leave now if we don't want to miss the train."
Akira Sendo's place, where they hosted the dinner, was richly, but even more was supper.
"So Kudo-san, is there anything that currently interests you? Any case? I hear the police are having a hard time catching the Mickey Mouse bandits."
"Ah, yeah. I've been following that one on the news. The gang of robbers who crashes extravagant parties and steal from the wealthy guests," said Shinichi.
"They've already got away with it three times and the police still has no leads yet except that all parties were featured in the Tokyo Aglrod magazine Event of the Month," Hattori said.
"Yes. My father's friend is the writer of that article. So I can hardly pass up this opportunity to solve this case," Akira-san said, the glint in his eyes told them he was up to something big.
"What do you mean Akira?" Aoi-san asked, although he was smiling he was obviously worried about the trouble they're president was about to get them into.
"Well, Asami, didn't you tell me that the mystery club needs a big project to motivate the members?" Akira-san turned to Asami-senpai.
Asami-senpai looked wary, but nonetheless, she answered, "Ah yes. Some of the members have been complainingly lately that the club activities have become routine and unexciting."
"Then I have the perfect solution. For our big project, we'll be hosting the next Tokyo Aglrod Event of the Month and solve the case of the Mickey Mouse bandits."
"Uwa! A party? Awesome!" Yumi-san exclaimed, nearly toppling her glass of water on her plate.
"The wealthiest and most famous of Japan will attend this party, including high-ranking officials of the police. My father will make sure of it. Of course, all the members of the mystery club. And I hope, Asami's friends as well? What do you say Kudo-san? Are you up for the challenge?"
But before Shinichi could answer, "Absolutely yes! We'll go!" Sonoko declared, standing from her chair with one hand punching in the air. "Won't we Ran? Kazuha? Miyano-kun? It'll be great fun! Yes! Yes! We'll go no doubt!"
"Excellent. That's settled then. If everyone's finished, feel free to go around the house. You'll find there are many things here of interest to you," said Akira-san.
Sonoko, Kazuha, and Hattori who was dragged by Kazuha, went with Yumi-san to the game room for a game of ping-pong. While Ran and Shiho was guided by Aoi-san to the collection room to look at some antiques and artifacts. Shinichi found the library, which was much bigger compared to his. Most of the books were first editions, Shinichi had no doubt it must have cost a fortune. He was trying to look if Akira-san had a first edition of any of the Holmes novels when he overheard anxious voices from the garden right outside.
"Asami, why not? We're the most compatible person for each other. We belong together." Shinichi saw Akira holding Asami-senpai by the arms, Asami-senpai looking away and trying to pull free.
"Akira-senpai, please! I can't," she said almost desperately.
"Why not!" he repeated his question and tightened his grasp when Asami-senpai tried to break free, not answering.
Shinichi worried that Akira-san would try to hurt her pretended to be lost. "Ah… a garden? Ah, Akira-san, Asami-san… Is everything alright?"
"Kudo-kun," Asami said, looking very much relieved at the sight of him.
Akira-san looked guilty for a second before annoyance replaced it. "Yes, we're just talking. If you don't min—"
"Wait!" Asami-senpai broke free of Akira-san rushed to Shinichi. "Kudo-ku – no. Shinichi," she said as though resolved. "Shinichi. I like you."
Shinichi froze, his heart galloped, and his jaw dropped open. Suddenly, he was back in middle school. And just as before, he had no idea how to answer. Not sure whether it was luck or misfortune, but a loud gasp across the other side of the garden kept him from answering.
It was Ran who was standing just outside a door.
"Ah. Sorry to interrupt," she said after recovering, "Aoi-san was going to show us the replica of the Venus de Milo in the garden…"
"A-ah, yeah. Sorry, didn't know something serious was happening here." Aoi-san said beside Ran.
Shinichi, embarrassed, started to explain, "Ah no, we're not really-" but the words got lost in his throat when from the shadows of the trees, she emerged. "Miyano…"
If he thought Shiho was angry that morning, it was nothing compared to how she looked now. Her eyes narrowed and her lips closed in a tight line. But there was something else, too, as she looked back and forth between Shinichi and Asami-senpai. A look of defiance and challenge.
"I'm not sorry at all," she said.